SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey Speaks Out Against Pros Returning to College Sports

SEC commissioner Greg Sankey recently filed an affidavit in a Louisiana courthouse, speaking out against the possibility of professional athletes returning to college sports. The affidavit was filed in East Baton Rouge Parish court in response to a lawsuit filed by RJ Luis, a former Big East Player of the Year who is currently a member of LSU’s basketball team.

Luis is attempting to play during the 2026-27 season after going undrafted in the 2025 NBA Draft and signing an NBA two-way deal shortly after. Luis left college early to declare for the NBA Draft despite not being projected to be drafted, and he signed a two-way contract with the Utah Jazz before being traded to the Boston Celtics.

However, Luis did not appear in an NBA or G League regular-season game and was waived by the Maine Celtics before the season due to injury. Luis did appear in three preseason games with the Celtics and logged eight total minutes.

Sankey wrote in the affidavit that not allowing players to return to college athletics is ‘essential to the integrity of college sports.’ He argued that permitting former professional athletes to return to competition creates a competitive disadvantage and fundamental unfairness for current student-athletes who have not pursued a professional sports career but instead have maintained their commitment to the collegiate athletics model.

The issue of professional athletes returning to college sports is not new, and Sankey has previously spoken out on the matter. In February, he filed an affidavit regarding former Alabama center Charles Bediako after he returned to the school following a stint in the G League. Bediako appeared in five games during SEC play for the Crimson Tide before being ruled ineligible.

Even if Luis is ruled eligible, LSU faces an uphill climb to get every player first-year coach Will Wade recruited this past offseason available for the start of the season. The Tigers have just four players on their active roster who are guaranteed to be eligible this season, and they dipped into the super-senior market earlier this month when Wade landed former UCLA guard Skyy Clark.

The preliminary injunction hearing for Luis’s eligibility is set to take place on Monday in a Baton Rouge court. The outcome of this hearing will have significant implications for the future of college sports and the eligibility of professional athletes to compete at the collegiate level.